• In 1993, retired Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall died in Bethesda, Md., at age 84.

• Ten years ago: Connecticut became the first state to take part in the U.S. government’s plan to inoculate a half-million health-care workers against smallpox. (Only four doctors agreed to be vaccinated the first day.)

• Five years ago: Congressional leaders announced a deal with the White House on an economic-stimulus package that would give most tax filers refunds of $600 to $1,200.

• One year ago: Declaring the American dream under siege, President Barack Obama used his State of the Union address to deliver a populist challenge to shrink the gap between rich and poor, promising to tax the wealthy more and help jobless Americans get work and hang onto their homes.

Thought for Today

“All men wish to have truth on their side; but few to be on the side of truth.” — Richard Whately, British theologian (1787-1863)